Swiss Climate and Weather

Switzerland has a temperate climate in the populated areas, but mountain
peaks in the alps are buried under eternal ice and snow. On the southern
side of the alps the climate is a little bit warmer than in the north,
but the really important thing to consider is that the alps form a
barrier that separates two completely different aspect of a weather
situation.

For example there may be a high-pressure area in Italy and
low pressure in central Europe, so there will be southern wind crossing
the alps. While ascending in southern Switzerland the air will get cooler,
vapour will condensate and there will be rain. North of the alps the
falling wind will be dry and warm (föhn). Often föhn
wind brings a little sunshine in the Rhine valley between Chur and
Lake Constance and in the Reuss valley from Altdorf to Lucerne while
there are clouds over northern Switzerland.
The same effect can of course also be observed in opposite direction.

When consulting a weather forecast for Switzerland it is therefore
very important to focus exactly on the correct region.

Typical Temperatures in Switzerland

Location

Height abovesea level

Winter (January)

Summer (July)

Minimum

Mean Value

Mean Value

Maximum

m

ft

° C

° F

° C

° F

° C

° F

° C

° F

Geneva

375

1230

-17

1

1.1

34

19.2

67

35

95

Lausanne

447

1467

-17

1

0.5

33

18.2

65

33

91

Montreux

372

1220

-17

1

1.1

34

19.0

66

33

91

Sion

491

1611

-17

1

0.1

32

19.2

67

35

95

Zermatt

1616

5302

-26

-15

-5.5

22

12.6

55

27

81

Neuchâtel

479

1572

-19

-2

-0.2

32

18.4

65

35

95

La Brévine

1043

3422

-33

-27

-4.1

24

13.2

56

29

84

Bern

540

1772

-22

-8

-1.0

30

17.4

63

33

91

Interlaken

564

1850

-22

-8

-0.4

31

16.6

62

31

88

Jungfraujoch

3454

11332

-37

-35

-14.2

6

-1.8

29

10

50

Basel

260

853

-23

-9

1.3

34

18.8

66

35

95

Aarau

382

1253

-24

-11

-0.5

31

17.3

63

33

91

Zurich

408

1339

-24

-11

-0.1

32

17.7

64

35

95

Schaffhausen

390

1280

-24

-11

-1.1

30

17.2

63

33

91

Frauenfeld

420

1378

-24

-11

-0.8

31

17.7

64

33

91

Kreuzlingen

403

1322

-23

-9

-0.5

31

17.9

64

33

91

St. Gallen

676

2218

-24

-11

-1.8

29

15.6

60

30

86

Mount Säntis

2502

8209

-31

-24

-8.6

17

5.0

41

18

64

Lucerne

435

1427

-22

-8

-0.2

32

17.9

64

33

91

Mount Pilatus

2109

6919

-29

-20

-7.3

19

7.8

46

23

73

Altdorf

447

1467

-22

-8

0.5

33

17.5

64

35

95

Glarus

472

1549

-24

-11

-1.9

29

16.6

62

33

91

Mount Rigi

1797

5896

-26

-15

-4.3

24

9.8

50

26

79

Mount Titlis

3239

10,627

-35

-33

-12.9

9

-0.3

31

12

53

St. Gotthard

2109

6919

-29

-20

-7.3

19

7.8

46

23

73

Chur

585

1919

-22

-8

-0.8

31

17.3

63

35

95

Arosa

1739

5705

-26

-15

-5.1

23

10.2

50

27

81

Davos

1560

5118

-30

-22

-6.6

20

12.0

54

27

81

St. Moritz

1775

5824

-26

-15

-6.7

20

11.1

52

27

81

Scuol

1287

4223

-26

-15

-5.8

22

14.9

59

27

81

Bellinzona

230

755

-12

10

1.8

35

21.2

70

33

91

Locarno

205

673

-8

18

2.9

37

20.8

69

33

91

Lugano

276

905

-12

10

1.9

35

21.0

70

35

95

Temperature Conversion Table Celsius - Fahrenheit

Throughout continental Europe temperatures are measured in Celsius degrees.
The definition of Celsius degrees is: Ice melts at 0 ° Celsius, water
at sea level boils at 100 ° Celsius. The idea of Fahrenheit degrees is:
0 ° Fahrenheit is the lowest temperature to be expected (not at any
point on earth, though), 100 ° Fahrenheit is the normal temperature
of the human body.

Use the table below to convert temperatures of weather forecasts from
Celsius degrees to Fahrenheit degrees and vice versa.

° C

° F

° C

° F

° C

° F

° C

° F

° C

° F

0

32

18

64

30

86

39.0

102.2

100

212

-10

14

15

59

28

82

38.0

100.4

80

176

-18

0

12

54

26

79

37.0

98.6

60

140

-20

-4

9

48

24

75

36.0

96.8

50

122

-30

-22

6

43

22

72

34

93

45

113

-40

-40

3

37

20

68

32

90

40

104.0

Formulas

Temperature in Fahrenheit := (Temperature in Celsius x 9/5) + 32

Temperature in Celsius := (Temperature in Fahrenheit - 32) x 5/9

Lower Temperatures at Higher Altitudes

As a rule of thumb, temperatures are about 1°C (2°F) lower per 150 m (500 ft)
increase in altitude. Weather forecasts for temperatures in Switzerland are
usually based on typical midland altitudes (400 m to 500 m / 1200 ft to 1500 ft)
for the north side of the alps and 300 m (900 ft) for the south side of the alps
unless given for a specific city.

Often forecasts will indicate a height in meters for the
so-called Nullgradgrenze = elevation where the temperature is 0°C
(32°F), on warm summer days this is around 3000 m / 10000 ft. If rain is
predicted, the so-called Schneefallgrenze = height where you can expect
snowfall instead of rain due to lower temperatures at higher altitudes may
be indicated. In summer this is usually above 2500 m (8000 ft), in winter it
is often around 500 m to 1000 m (1500 ft to 3000 ft).

Excursions to Glaciers and Mountain Peaks

Tourists wanting to see glaciers and mountains with eternal snow may
easily do so in Switzerland, because there are many alpine railways
and cableways bringing you right up to the peaks. But this kind of rapid
travel between two points of very different altidude also means a rapid
change of climate! Within less than one hour, you may be brought from
a hot summer day in the midlands (30° C / 86° F) to cold winter
(-2° C / 29° F).

So if you want to visit Junfraujoch ("Top of Europe", Europe's most
elevated train station) or Mount Titlis (both well over 3000 m / 10000 ft)
you have to carry warm clothes with you even in summer: socks, pullover,
winter jacket or coat. For mountains at 1500 m to 2500 m (5000 ft to 8000 ft,
like Mount Rigi, Mount Pilate, Mount Säntis), a t-shirt may still be appropriate
on a warm summer day - as long as there is no wind. A wind-proof jacket is
highly recommended anyway.

Online Weather Forecast Services for Switzerland

20 min
weather forecast for Switzerland, today and next days,
allows to choose a specific destination

Typical Weather Effects for Switzerland

Avalanche below Allalinhorn (Mischabel),
Saas Fee, Valais, Switzerland.
Though villages, roads, railways and official ski runs
are well protected against the dangers of avalanches,
careless skiers take high hazards when leaving official ski runs.

Double rainbow at Lucerne

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